A
Sandinista soldier protects a mural on the wall of Daniel Ortega's
residence.

Since the 1850's, the U.S. government has intervened in Nicaragua numerous
times, creating puppet governments to protect its economic and political
interests. Heavily supported by the U.S., Nicaraguan autocrat Anastasio
Somoza, founded a brutal dictatorship in 1936, which was passed from father
to son to brother for 43 years. One example of this dynasty's corruption
was siphoning money from international relief funds sent to Managua after
a devastating earthquake struck in 1972.

After years of torture and bloodshed, the Somoza dictatorship was toppled
on July 19,1979 by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). On
July 20th, Sandinista soldiers entered Managua amid the fervent cheers
and celebration of hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans. For the first
time in Nicaraguan history, newly elected Sandinista officials implemented
successful social programs that fostered self-determination. These initiatives
achieved international recognition and included gains in the areas of
literacy, health care, education, childcare, unions and land reform.

As Nicaraguans worked towards greater self-sufficiency, the Reagan administration
started funding the Contra War to undermine the Sandinista government
in the early 1980's. This disastrous ten-year war cost 60,000 lives and
destroyed the country's infrastructure and economy with estimated losses
of U.S. $178 billion dollars.

In 1990, Nicaragua held its second democratically-governed presidential
elections. After suffering the brunt of war and a U.S. trade embargo,
many Nicaraguans f the general public voted for the US.- backed UNO Coalition
candidate Violeta de Chamorro. Many Nicaraguans felt pushed against the
wall by their dire conditions and saw no other way to end the US's aggression.
Yet, despite this coercion, the Sandinista Party still received 41% of
total votes. Today, the FSLN is still the largest, most popular party
in the nation.

Since the UNO coalition took office, they have severely cut government
spending on successful social programs, such as health care and education.
In July 1991 the right wing sectors attacked the Sandinista land reforms,
which gave land to peasants and small farmers. The results have been detrimental
to every aspect of people's lives. One example is the neighborhood, Barrio
La Primavera, in Managua. The people living on small plots of land and
in makeshift houses, are now threatened with eviction due to UNO's actions.

Today, the Nicaraguan people are organizing to help one another survive.
As they are building on the Sandinista successes they are looking forward
to the future for positive changes, despite the severe conditions that
UNO and US. aid policies are now producing.